[IATCB] News and updates for January 2023

Hello Visitor,

Board Happenings

Meet Robin Ryan, Manager of Ambassador Animals at the Dallas Zoo and your newest Board Member.

Robin has been working with ambassador animals in a professional setting since 2007 when she started with Aquatic Ectotherms at Fort Worth Zoo.  Originally afraid of birds, Robin had a lot of learning and growing to do when she transitioned to the outreach team at Fort Worth Zoo in 2008.  Robin started at the Dallas Zoo in 2013 where she was hired to help open a new stage experience.  Some career highlights at the Dallas Zoo include raising ambassador cheetahs, hearing guests' reactions to a close encounter of the bird kind, and helping team members have success in their training and knowledge.  She has been CIG certified since 2018 and CPBT-KA since 2019. Robin has an irrational (to some) love of vultures and sharks and an irrational (to all) fear of dinosaurs.  In her free time Robin loves to travel, often to other zoos, and participate in outdoor activities so long as the temperature is below 80F.  The weather is not cooperating with Robin this week so I imagine she will be doing a lot of indoor activities. 

Adding Robin rounds out the Board and the positions are filled.  2022 was definitely a year had of changes for the IATCB.   Some of our members stepped down, Nicki Boyd and Jayne Hardwick, while we also voted to expand the Board from 5 members to 7.  With this we were able to add Nicky Plaskitt, Kimm Hunt, Christina Lavallee and Robin Ryan.

We were able to open testing back up this year after the Covid shut down and begin certifying trainers again after a long break.  We hope you are able to enjoy some time with friends and family during the holiday season and are able to take some for self-care after spending the year taking care of so many others. 

Did you attend any conferences, workshop or symposiums this month? Don’t forget to apply for your CEU’s to maintain your certification.

2023 Testing Dates

*Applications will not be accepted after 11:59pm Eastern on this date

Mark your calendars, the next application deadline is March 15, 2023 and September 13, 2023.

*************** There are no additional International Testing fees!!**************

The International Avian Trainers Certification Board and the International Animal Trainers Certification Board, IATCB, offers you a way to gain professional credibility, increase your earnings potential, and advance your career. We live in a competitive world, and animal trainers are no different than anyone else looking for advanced knowledge and skill in their profession. IATCB endorses voluntary certification by examination for all professionals involved with animals, including trainers, educators, handlers, veterinarians, and all others involved in the care and handling of animals.